Truffles “better than those found in Italy” discovered in Portugal

The University of Évora and chef Tanka Sapkota have announced the discovery, for the first time in Portugal, of the summer truffle, a gastronomic delicacy resulting from the reproduction of fungi. 

“It is the first discovery of summer truffle in Portugal, it is a fantastic discovery, because we know, for the first time, that it is possible to grow it in our country”, explained a researcher from the University of Évora Celeste Santos e Silva.

The University of Évora and chef Tanka Sapkota have been working in partnership for two years looking for truffles in Portugal.
“Several people sent us several samples, but none were truffles” until April 26th, when they received another sample from the municipalities of Alenquer and Sobral de Monte Agraço, in the district of Lisbon, and the researchers were able to prove the existence of this truffle in Portugal.



Since this species of truffle was until now imported and a kilogram costs up to 100 euros, the researcher clarified that the discovery “opens up several market possibilities worldwide, both from the point of view of cultivation and commercialization”.
“I have been working in this area of macromycology for 20 years and I have several owners interested in cultivating it in addition to other crops, since its production can take between 13 and 15 years”, said Celeste Santos e Silva.
“Only today we gathered one kilogram and we have a man who gathered six kilograms in one morning because there were several places and there was a good quantity, so the potential is great”, said chef Tanka Sapkota.
In addition to being a delicacy used in gastronomy, it also has medicinal properties as it is anti-inflammatory, promotes the body's well-being and stimulates the immune system.
Tanka Sapkota discovered truffles in 1992 in restaurants in Italy and, in 2007, began using the delicacy in the dishes he prepares in his restaurants in Lisbon, with the aim of “democratising the truffle” that he has been importing.
In his three restaurants in the capital, he consumes an average of seven kilograms per week.

With this discovery, the chef has no doubt that Portugal now has “better truffles than Italy”.

​https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2024-05-28/truffles-better-than-those-found-in-italy-discovered-in-portugal/89281